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USGA and The R&A approve rule changing how long putters can be used

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Using a long putter anchored against his body, Keegan Bradley, pictured above, won the 2011 PGA Championship. It is unknown if the organization will acknowledge an amendment of the Rules of Golf today barring the stroke.
(Jim Cowsert/USA Today Sports)

Golf purists everywhere were celebrating their sport on Tuesday, one steeped in tradition and integrity.

After a comprehensive study and much debate, the United States Golf Association (USGA), based in Far Hills, and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A), golf’s governing bodies, officially adopted Rule 14-1b of the Rules of Golf that bans anchoring the club in making a stroke.

The rule takes effect on January 1, 2016.

“Rule 14-1b protects one of the most important challenges in the game of golf -- the free swing of the entire club," USGA president Glen D. Nager said.

“The new rule upholds the essential nature of the traditional method of stroke and eliminates the possible advantage that anchoring provides.”

In the past, golfers were able to anchor long putters against their body to create a hinge. Research by the USGA showed that usage of the long putter has gone from 4 percent several years ago to 11 percent in 2011. Four of the past six major champions have used them.

But the rule, rather than banning long putters, defines what constitutes a legal putting stroke.

“It’s kind of a ridiculous thing that just due to some success of some guys it’s being banned,” said Mike Burke, director of golf at Montammy CC in Alpine who has been using a long putter since 1996. “If it had happened 10, 12 years ago, I would’ve been more understanding.”

Former PGA tour pro Paul Azinger, a 12-time tour winner who won the 2000 Sony Open with a putter he pressed into his belly, agreed.

He tweeted: “The game is about people, not a spirit & this feels like an attack on recent success. Slowest knee-jerk reaction ever.”

Some form of anchoring has been around for at least 40 years but it was never an issue until last year when Keegan Bradley became the first player to win a major with a belly putter at the PGA Championship.

Tiger Woods says he’s in favor of the ban.

“I’ve always felt that in golf you should have to swing the club, control your nerves and swing all 14 clubs, not just 13,” Woods said this week.

The PGA Tour and The PGA of America have voiced strong opposition to the rule and it remains to be seen if they’ll adopt it.

Burke believes it’s the older players on the senior tours, not the weekend warriors or in-their-prime pros, who’ll be most affected by the new rule.

“Their nerves maybe got a little frayed over time but they’re still very good players and the long putter has kept them playing longer,” said Burke, who has won 17 New Jersey majors.

“Believe me, if I could putt with a short putter, I’d do it. I went to the long putter because I had to. I needed a little help. But I can yip with a long putter and I know others can, too.”